Massive Skyscraper Planned For West Ealing
Developer A2Dominion accused of aiming to cash in on Crossrail
Picture: A2Dominion Group
Plans for a massive development in West Ealing including a 25-storey high skyscraper have been revealed this week.
The A2Dominion Group wants to build a major residential development at a site on the corner of Hastings Road and Drayton Green Road.
Drawings published by A2Dominion as part of their consultation exercise show more towers including those of eight and eleven stories high.
They plan around 183 new flats both private and affordable near West Ealing Crossrail, with new retail space fronting onto the corner of Hastings Road and Drayton Green Road. They say least 35% of the development will be ‘affordable units’ some for rent and some sold on a shared ownership basis.
There has been a shocked reaction from some residents in the area who fear that the development would establish a precedent that would lead to a spate of high rise blocks in West Ealing and Hanwell. Currently the tallest building in the vicinity is just eight stories. A2Dominion have been accused of looking to ‘cash in’ on Crossrail which will serve the station right next to the site.
There has also been criticism of the close links between the Council and A2Dominion and the lack of any genuine attempt to make people aware of the plans. Local media were not informed that the consultation was taking place.
A2Dominion dispute that they are not making an effort to keep people informed about the proposal and say they have sent out 2,500 letters to local residents.
Danny Lynch, A2Dominion’s Director of Land and Development, said, “The new development at 41-42 Hastings Road in West Ealing will provide much needed affordable housing in the borough. We are proposing at least 35% affordable homes, split between 60% affordable rent and 40% shared ownership.
“We understand the concerns of the local community in regards to the height of the building and we have worked hard to reduce its impact by slimming the tower on the higher floors and stepping the building down towards Hastings Road.
“The draft new London plan sets out a ten year target of 28,070 new homes in Ealing, which means an annual average of 2,807 new homes will need to be built per year, between 2019 and 2029.
“In a borough like Ealing, potential sites for these new homes are limited. The options are to either build on ‘green field’ sites which for Ealing means parks and the Green Belt or to build in areas known as ‘brown field’ sites, where there are already existing buildings.
“For Ealing, even brown field sites are scarce so we have had to look at town centres such as West Ealing, where there are already local facilities and transport routes in place plus improvements such as Crossrail in construction.”
A2Dominion are currently asking for feedback on their proposal for the redevelopment the site at 41-42 Hastings Road, West Ealing, W13 8QH before it is submitted to Ealing Council. It will include a range of flats of different sizes: studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. The scheme would be car-free whilst providing around 300 cycle spaces.
A2Dominion is a not-for-profit housing provider with over 37,000 homes in management across London and the South East including 3,500 homes in Ealing borough in management and more than 700 in development. We are currently seven years into a long term regeneration of the Green Man Lane estate, which will provide new homes and community facilities, including a primary school, to the local area.
The planning application is to be submitted next month which opponents say gives insufficient time for feedback to be assessed and incorporated into the design. If permission is granted then construction will begin next year and the project would be completed in 2023.
May 23, 2019